U.S. patent application number 15/709851 was filed with the patent office on 2018-04-05 for electrical connector.
The applicant listed for this patent is LOTES CO., LTD. Invention is credited to Ted Ju.
Application Number | 20180097311 15/709851 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 59695581 |
Filed Date | 2018-04-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20180097311 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ju; Ted |
April 5, 2018 |
ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR
Abstract
An electrical connector includes an insulating body, multiple
terminals disposed at the insulating body, a shielding shell,
disposed on a periphery of the insulating body, and a circuit board
located at the rear end of the insulating body. The terminals have
at least one grounding terminal. The grounding terminal has a first
grounding pin extending backward out of the insulating body. The
circuit board has a first solder pad and a second solder pad. The
first solder pad is connected to the second solder pad. The first
grounding pin is conductively connected to the first solder pad,
and the shielding shell is electrically connected to the second
solder pad.
Inventors: |
Ju; Ted; (Keelung,
TW) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
LOTES CO., LTD |
Keelung |
|
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
59695581 |
Appl. No.: |
15/709851 |
Filed: |
September 20, 2017 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62404395 |
Oct 5, 2016 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01R 13/04 20130101;
H01R 13/6594 20130101; H01R 43/0256 20130101; H01R 13/405 20130101;
H01R 13/20 20130101; H01R 13/6591 20130101; H01R 13/631 20130101;
H01R 13/6597 20130101; H01R 13/652 20130101; H01R 9/03 20130101;
H01R 13/6485 20130101; H01R 24/60 20130101; H01R 13/6581 20130101;
H01R 13/646 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01R 13/648 20060101
H01R013/648; H01R 13/652 20060101 H01R013/652 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 11, 2017 |
CN |
201720028481.6 |
Claims
1. An electrical connector, comprising: an insulating body; a
plurality of terminals disposed at the insulating body, wherein the
terminals includes at least one grounding terminal, and the at
least one grounding terminal has a first grounding pin extending
backward out of the insulating body; a shielding shell disposed on
a periphery of the insulating body; and a circuit board located at
a rear end of the insulating body, wherein the circuit board
comprises a first solder pad and a second solder pad, the first
solder pad is connected to the second solder pad, the first
grounding pin is conductively connected to the first solder pad,
and the shielding shell is electrically connected to the second
solder pad.
2. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the
circuit board comprises a notch, the first solder pad is located at
one side of the notch in a left-right direction, and the second
solder pad is located at rear of the notch in a front-rear
direction.
3. The electrical connector according to claim 2, wherein: the
insulating body comprises at least one extension block extending
backward, wherein the extension block has a guiding slot, and the
second solder pad is located at rear of the extension block; and
the circuit board has a retaining portion located between the
second solder pad and the notch, the retaining portion being
retained in the guiding slot.
4. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the
shielding shell and the second solder pad are electrically
connected by soldering via a solder.
5. The electrical connector according to claim 1, further
comprising a middle grounding member, wherein the terminals are
arranged in two rows, the middle grounding member is located
between the two rows of the terminals, the middle grounding member
has at least one second grounding pin extending out of the
insulating body, the circuit board has at least one third solder
pad, and the second grounding pin is conductively connected to the
third solder pad.
6. The electrical connector according to claim 5, wherein the third
solder pad is connected to the first solder pad.
7. The electrical connector according to claim 5, wherein the third
solder pad is connected to the second solder pad.
8. The electrical connector according to claim 5, wherein a mating
slot is formed by recessing inward from a front end of the
insulating body, the terminals are arranged in one row respectively
at upper and lower opposite sides of the mating slot, each of the
terminals has a contacting portion protruding into the mating slot,
the middle grounding member is located between the two rows of the
terminals, the middle grounding member has two latch arms located
at left and right opposite sides of the mating slot, and each of
the latch arms has a latch portion protruding into the mating
slot.
9. The electrical connector according to claim 1, wherein the
terminals are arranged in two rows and each row of the terminals
are provided with two grounding terminals located at outer sides
and disposed symmetrically, and the two first solder pads and the
two second solder pads are provided respectively on upper and lower
surfaces of the circuit board disposed opposite to each other.
10. An electrical connector, comprising: an insulating body; a
plurality of terminals disposed at the insulating body and having
at least one grounding terminal; a shielding shell disposed on a
periphery of the insulating body; and a circuit board located at a
rear end of the insulating body, wherein the terminals are
connected to the circuit board, and the shielding shell and the at
least one grounding terminal are electrically connected on the
circuit board.
11. The electrical connector according to claim 10, wherein the
circuit board comprises a first solder pad and a second solder pad,
the first solder pad is electrically connected to the second solder
pad, the at least one grounding terminal is conductively connected
to the first solder pad, and the shielding shell is electrically
connected to the second solder pad.
12. The electrical connector according to claim 11, wherein the
first solder pad and the second solder pad are arranged in two rows
in a front-rear direction.
13. The electrical connector according to claim 11, wherein the
shielding shell and the second solder pad are electrically
connected by soldering via a solder.
14. The electrical connector according to claim 11, further
comprising a solder, wherein the solder is soldered to the second
solder pad, and the solder has an arc-shaped contacting surface
contacting the shielding shell.
15. The electrical connector according to claim 11, wherein the
circuit board comprises a notch, the first solder pad is located at
one side of the notch in a left-right direction, and the second
solder pad is located at rear of the notch in a front-rear
direction.
16. The electrical connector according to claim 15, wherein: the
insulating body comprises at least one extension block extending
backward, wherein the extension block has a guiding slot, the
second solder pad is located at rear of the extension block; and
the circuit board has a retaining portion located between the
second solder pad and the notch, and the retaining portion being
retained in the guiding slot.
17. The electrical connector according to claim 11, further
comprising a middle grounding member provided in the insulating
body, wherein the middle grounding member has at least one second
grounding pin extending out of the insulating body, the circuit
board has at least one third solder pad, and the second grounding
pin is conductively connected to the third solder pad.
18. The electrical connector according to claim 17, wherein the
third solder pad is connected to the first solder pad.
19. The electrical connector according to claim 17, wherein the
third solder pad is connected to the second solder pad.
20. The electrical connector according to claim 17, wherein a
mating slot formed by recessing inward from a front end of the
insulating body, the terminals are arranged in one row respectively
at upper and lower opposite sides of the mating slot, each of the
terminals has a contacting portion protruding into the mating slot,
the middle grounding member is located between two rows of the
terminals, the middle grounding member has two latch arms located
at left and right opposite sides of the mating slot, and each of
the latch arms has a latch portion protruding into the mating slot.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority and the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Application No. 62/404,395, filed on Oct. 5, 2016, the
entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to an electrical connector,
and more particularly to an electrical connector having a shielding
shell.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] A known electrical connector includes an insulating body,
multiple terminals accommodated in the insulating body, a circuit
board connected to the terminals and a shielding shell covering the
insulating body and the circuit board. The front surface of the
insulating body recesses inwardly to form a mating slot, and the
multiple terminals are arranged in two rows at upper and lower
sides of the mating slot. The electrical connector further includes
a latch member located between the two rows of the terminals. The
latch member has a main body portion located between the two rows
of the terminals. A latch arm extends forward from each of two
sides of the main body portion. Each of the latch arms has a latch
portion protruding into the mating slot. Two outermost terminals in
each row of the terminals are grounding terminals. Each of the
grounding terminals has a contacting portion protruding into the
mating slot and a soldering portion exposed from the rear end of
the insulating body. Each of the grounding terminals has a
"U"-shaped bending structure between the contacting portion and the
soldering portion, so that the "U"-shaped bending structure can be
in contact with the main body portion of the latch member to form
an electrical connection, or one of the grounding terminal and the
main body portion forms into a grounding sheet to be in contact
with the other. The two latch arms are located at left and right
outer sides of the two rows of the terminals, and the latch arms
are in contact with the shielding shell to form an electrical
connection, so that the grounding terminal and the shielding shell
are electrically connected.
[0004] In order to make the shielding shell and the grounding
terminal electrically connected, compared with other terminals, an
additional process step of forming a "U"-shaped bending structure
or a grounding sheet is carried out on the grounding terminal, so
as to achieve the grounding of the grounding terminal and the latch
member, and then the latch member is in contact with the shielding
shell to form an electrical connection between the grounding
terminal and the shielding shell. The structure of the foregoing
electrical connector is complex, and the manufacturing cost is
relatively high.
[0005] Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the art
to address the aforementioned deficiencies and inadequacies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In one aspect, the present invention relates to an
electrical connector with a grounding terminal and a shielding
shell being electrically connected and with a simple structure.
[0007] In certain embodiments, an electrical connector includes an
insulating body, multiple terminals disposed at the insulating
body, a shielding shell, disposed on a periphery of the insulating
body, and a circuit board, located at the rear end of the
insulating body. The multiple terminals have at least one grounding
terminal, and the grounding terminal has a first grounding pin
extending backward out of the insulating body. The circuit board
has a first solder pad and a second solder pad, and the first
solder pad is connected to the second solder pad. The first
grounding pin is conductively connected to the first solder pad,
and the shielding shell is electrically connected to the second
solder pad.
[0008] In certain embodiments, the circuit board has a notch, the
first solder pad is located at one side of the notch in a
left-right direction, and the second solder pad is located at the
rear of the notch in a front-rear direction.
[0009] In certain embodiments, the insulating body has at least one
extension block extending backward, the extension block has a
guiding slot, the second solder pad is located at the rear of the
extension block, the circuit board has a retaining portion located
between the second solder pad and the notch, and the retaining
portion is retained in the guiding slot.
[0010] In certain embodiments, the shielding shell and the second
solder pad are electrically connected by soldering via a
solder.
[0011] In certain embodiments, the electrical connector further
includes a middle grounding member, the multiple terminals are
arranged in two rows, the middle grounding member is located
between the two rows of the terminals, the middle grounding member
has at least one second grounding pin extending out of the
insulating body, the circuit board has at least one third solder
pad, and the second grounding pin is conductively connected to the
third solder pad.
[0012] In certain embodiments, the third solder pad is connected to
the first solder pad.
[0013] In certain embodiments, the third solder pad is connected to
the second solder pad.
[0014] In certain embodiments, a mating slot formed by being
recessed inwardly is provided at the front end of the insulating
body, the multiple terminals are arranged in one row respectively
at upper and lower opposite sides of the mating slot, each of the
terminals has a contacting portion protruding into the mating slot,
the middle grounding member is located between the two rows of the
terminals, the middle grounding member has two latch arms located
at left and right opposite sides of the mating slot, and each of
the latch arms has a latch portion protruding into the mating
slot.
[0015] In certain embodiments, the multiple terminals are arranged
in two rows and each row of the terminals are provided with the two
grounding terminals located at the outer side and disposed
symmetrically, and the two first solder pads and the two second
solder pads are provided respectively on upper and lower surfaces
of the circuit board disposed opposite to each other.
[0016] In another aspect, the present invention relates to an
electrical connector. In certain embodiments, the electrical
connector includes an insulating body, multiple terminals disposed
at the insulating body and having at least one grounding terminal,
a shielding shell disposed on a periphery of the insulating body,
and a circuit board located at the rear end of the insulating body.
The multiple terminals are connected to the circuit board, and the
shielding shell and the grounding terminal are electrically
connected on the circuit board.
[0017] In certain embodiments, the circuit board has a first solder
pad and a second solder pad, the first solder pad is electrically
connected to the second solder pad, the first grounding terminal is
conductively connected to the first solder pad, and the shielding
shell is electrically connected to the second solder pad.
[0018] In certain embodiments, the first solder pad and the second
solder pad are arranged in two rows in a front-rear direction.
[0019] In certain embodiments, the shielding shell and the second
solder pad are electrically connected by soldering via a
solder.
[0020] In certain embodiments, the electrical connector further
comprises a solder, wherein the solder is soldered to the second
solder pad, and the solder has an arc-shaped contacting surface
contacting the shielding shell.
[0021] In certain embodiments, the circuit board has a notch, the
first solder pad is located at one side of the notch in a
left-right direction, and the second solder pad is located at the
rear of the notch in a front-rear direction.
[0022] In certain embodiments, the insulating body has at least one
extension block extending backward, the extension block has a
guiding slot, the second solder pad is located at the rear of the
extension block, the circuit board has a retaining portion located
between the second solder pad and the notch, and the retaining
portion is retained in the guiding slot.
[0023] In certain embodiments, the electrical connector further
includes a middle grounding member provided in the insulating body.
The middle grounding member has at least one second grounding pin
extending out of the insulating body, the circuit board has at
least one third solder pad, and the second grounding pin is
conductively connected to the third solder pad.
[0024] In certain embodiments, the third solder pad is connected to
the first solder pad.
[0025] In certain embodiments, the third solder pad is connected to
the second solder pad.
[0026] In certain embodiments, a mating slot formed by being
recessed inwardly is provided at the front end of the insulating
body, the multiple terminals are arranged in one row respectively
at upper and lower opposite sides of the mating slot, each of the
terminals has a contacting portion protruding into the mating slot,
the middle grounding member is located between two rows of the
terminals, the middle grounding member has two latch arms located
at left and right opposite sides of the mating slot, and each of
the latch arms has a latch portion protruding into the mating
slot.
[0027] Compared with the related art, in certain embodiments of the
present invention, by arranging, on the circuit board, the first
solder pad conductively connected to the grounding terminal, and by
arranging, on the circuit board, the second solder pad electrically
connected to the shielding shell, the first solder pad and the
second solder pad are electrically connected on the circuit board.
Thus, compared with the related art, a grounding path can be formed
between the grounding terminal and the shielding shell merely by
making a simple change to the connection structure between the
first solder pad and the second solder pad on the circuit board,
without the need for other elements, such as the latch member.
[0028] These and other aspects of the present invention will become
apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment
taken in conjunction with the following drawings, although
variations and modifications therein may be effected without
departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the
disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The accompanying drawings illustrate one or more embodiments
of the invention and together with the written description, serve
to explain the principles of the invention. Wherever possible, the
same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to
the same or like elements of an embodiment.
[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic three-dimensional exploded view of an
electrical connector according to a first embodiment of the present
invention.
[0031] FIG. 2 is a schematic three-dimensional exploded view of
terminals and a latch member in FIG. 1 being assembled with the
insulating body.
[0032] FIG. 3 is a schematic three-dimensional assembled view of
FIG. 1.
[0033] FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of FIG. 3.
[0034] FIG. 5 is a schematic three-dimensional exploded view of an
electrical connector according to a second embodiment of the
present invention.
[0035] FIG. 6 is a schematic three-dimensional exploded view of an
electrical connector according to a third embodiment of the present
invention.
[0036] FIG. 7 is a schematic three-dimensional exploded view of an
electrical connector according to a fourth embodiment of the
present invention.
[0037] FIG. 8 is a schematic three-dimensional exploded view of an
electrical connector according to a fifth embodiment of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0038] The present invention is more particularly described in the
following examples that are intended as illustrative only since
numerous modifications and variations therein will be apparent to
those skilled in the art. Various embodiments of the invention are
now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers
indicate like components throughout the views. As used in the
description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the
meaning of "a", "an", and "the" includes plural reference unless
the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the
description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the
meaning of "in" includes "in" and "on" unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise. Moreover, titles or subtitles may be used in
the specification for the convenience of a reader, which shall have
no influence on the scope of the present invention.
[0039] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as
being "on" another element, it can be directly on the other element
or intervening elements may be present therebetween. In contrast,
when an element is referred to as being "directly on" another
element, there are no intervening elements present. As used herein,
the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more
of the associated listed items.
[0040] Furthermore, relative terms, such as "lower" or "bottom" and
"upper" or "top," may be used herein to describe one element's
relationship to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It
will be understood that relative terms are intended to encompass
different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation
depicted in the Figures. For example, if the device in one of the
figures is turned over, elements described as being on the "lower"
side of other elements would then be oriented on "upper" sides of
the other elements. The exemplary term "lower", can therefore,
encompasses both an orientation of "lower" and "upper," depending
of the particular orientation of the figure. Similarly, if the
device in one of the figures is turned over, elements described as
"below" or "beneath" other elements would then be oriented "above"
the other elements. The exemplary terms "below" or "beneath" can,
therefore, encompass both an orientation of above and below.
[0041] As used herein, "around", "about" or "approximately" shall
generally mean within 20 percent, preferably within 10 percent, and
more preferably within 5 percent of a given value or range.
Numerical quantities given herein are approximate, meaning that the
term "around", "about" or "approximately" can be inferred if not
expressly stated.
[0042] As used herein, the terms "comprising", "including",
"carrying", "having", "containing", "involving", and the like are
to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not
limited to.
[0043] The description will be made as to the embodiments of the
present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in
FIGS. 1-8. In accordance with the purposes of this invention, as
embodied and broadly described herein, this invention, in one
aspect, relates to an electrical connector.
[0044] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of an electrical connector
100 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, the
electrical connector 100 is a universal serial bus (USB) Type-C
plug connector 100 which, together with a mating connector, can be
inserted in dual orientation. The electrical connector 100 includes
an insulating body 1, multiple terminals 2 disposed at the
insulating body 1, a middle grounding member 3, a shielding shell 4
disposed on a periphery of the insulating body 1, and a circuit
board 5 connected to the multiple terminals 2.
[0045] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the insulating body 1 includes
an insulating case 11, an upper seat 12 and a lower seat 13. The
middle grounding member 3 is mounted between the upper seat 12 and
the lower seat 13. The upper seat 12 and the lower seat 13 are
snap-fitted with each other and arranged inside the insulating case
11. The insulating case 11 has a base 111 and a tongue 112 formed
by extending forward from the base 111. The base 111 has a rear end
face 1111, and the base 111 has a mounting space 1112 formed by
being recessed forward from the rear end face 1111. The tongue 112
has a mating slot 1120 formed by being recessed backward from the
front end face of the tongue 112. The insulating case 11 has an
extension block 113 formed by extending backward from left and
right sides of the rear end face 1111 respectively. Each of the
extension blocks 113 has a guiding slot 1130, the guiding slot 1130
extends in a front-rear direction and communicates with the
mounting space 1112 in the front-rear direction. Each of the
guiding slots 1130, opposite to each other in the left-right
direction, runs inwardly through the extension block 113.
[0046] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the multiple terminals 2 include
an upper row terminals 201 and a lower row terminals 202 which are
vertically arranged. The upper row terminals 201 are insert molded
on the upper seat 12, the lower row terminals 202 are insert molded
on the lower seat 13, and the transmission specification of the
upper row terminals 201 complies with the transmission
specification of the lower row terminals 202. That is, the
terminals 2 in the upper row terminals 201 and the lower row
terminals 202 are defined as grounding, signal, signal, power
supply, reserved, signal, signal, reserved, power supply, signal,
signal, and grounding. Each of the terminals 2 has a contacting
portion 21 exposed forward from the upper seat 12/the lower seat 13
and a soldering portion 22 exposed backward from the upper seat
12/the lower seat 13. The contacting portion 21 protrudes into the
mating slot 1120, and the soldering portion 22 exposes backward out
of the rear end face 1111. The multiple soldering portions 22 are
correspondingly arranged into upper and lower rows between the two
extension blocks 113. Each of the upper row terminals 201 and the
lower row terminals 202 is provided with the two grounding
terminals 23 located at the outer side and disposed symmetrically,
and the soldering portion 22 of the grounding terminal 23 is
defined as a first grounding pin 231.
[0047] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the middle grounding member 3 is
formed by blanking a sheet metal, and is located between the upper
row terminals 201 and the lower row terminals 202. The middle
grounding member 3 has a main body portion 31. The main body
portion 31 is sandwiched between the upper seat 12 and the lower
seat 13, and the three are all accommodated in the mounting space
1112. The middle grounding member 3 has two latch arms 32 extending
forward from two sides of the main body portion 31. The two latch
arms 32 are located at left and right sides of the insulating case
11, and each of the latch arms 32 has a latch portion 320
protruding into the mating slot 1120. The middle grounding member 3
has two second grounding pins 33 formed by extending backward from
two sides of the main body portion 31, and the two second grounding
pins 33 are vertically arranged in a staggered manner.
[0048] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the shielding shell 4 includes a
first shell and a second shell. The first shell is disposed on the
periphery of the insulating case 11, and the second shell is
fixedly connected to the rear end of the first shell. The first
shell is formed by deep drawing technique, and the first shell has
a front shell 41 and a back shell 42. The front shell 41 encloses
the tongue 112, and the back shell 42 encloses the base 111 and the
extension block 113. The rear end of the back shell 42 protrudes
backward out of the rear end of the extension block 113. Multiple
soldering areas 420 are provided on the inner surface of the back
shell 42. The soldering areas 420 are mainly distributed at left
and right sides of the back shell 42, and the top and the bottom of
each side are each provided with one of the soldering areas
420.
[0049] Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the circuit board 5 has a rear
section 51 and a front section 52 formed by protruding forward from
the rear section 51. The circuit board 5 is further provided with a
notch 53 at left and right sides of the front section 52
respectively, so that the circuit board 5 is substantially of a
"convex" shape. Upper and lower surfaces of the front section 52
are each provided with multiple contacts 54 side by side, and the
front section 52 is inserted between the two rows of the soldering
portions 22, so that the two rows of the soldering portions 22 are
correspondingly soldered corresponding to the multiple contacts 54
on the upper and lower surfaces of the circuit board 5. The contact
54 soldered to the first grounding pin 231 is defined as a first
solder pad 55, and therefore, the multiple contacts 54 on the
upper/lower surfaces of the circuit board 5 have two first solder
pads 55 located at the outer side. Upper and lower surfaces of the
rear section 51 each have a second solder pad 56 and a third solder
pad 57 which are located at the rear of each of the notches 53, and
the third solder pad 57 is located between the notch 53 and the
second solder pad 56, so that when the circuit board 5 is inserted
into the space between the two rows of the terminals 2, the second
grounding pin 33 can be always conductively connected to the third
solder pad 57. In this embodiment, both the first solder pad 55 and
the third solder pad 57 are connected to the second solder pad 56.
The first solder pad 55 and the third solder pad 57 extend in the
front-rear direction, the second solder pad 56 extends in the
left-right direction, and the second solder pad 56 is arranged
adjacent to the side edge of the circuit board 5. That is, the
first solder pad 55, the second solder pad 56 and the third solder
pad 57 form into a big solder pad with a substantially inverted "F"
shape. When the circuit board 5 is connected to the multiple
terminals 2, the second solder pad 56 is located at the rear of the
extension block 113 at the corresponding side, and the second
solder pad 56 corresponds to the soldering area 420 at the
corresponding side. The electrical connector 100 is further
provided with multiple solders 6. One of the solders 6 is provided
at each of the second solder pads 56 and the soldering area 420
corresponding to the second solder pad 56 respectively, and the
solder 6 can be a solder ball or solder paste. The soldering area
420 is subjected to process treatment so as to be easily connected
to the solder 6. The solder 6 is melted by heating and is then
connected to the second solder pad 56 and the soldering area 420,
so that a grounding path is formed between some of the grounding
terminals 23, the shielding shell 4 and the middle grounding member
3, or a grounding path is formed between some of the grounding
terminals 23 and the shielding shell 4. The two second grounding
pins 33 are soldered to the third solder pads 57 at the
corresponding sides on the upper and lower surfaces of the circuit
board 5. The rear section 51 has a retaining portion 58 located
between each of the notches 53 and the second solder pad 56 at the
corresponding side thereof. Each retaining portion 58 is located,
in the left-right direction, at the outer side of the third solder
pad 57 at the corresponding side. Each retaining portion 58 is
retained in the guiding slot 1130, to guide the circuit board 5
during its insertion and to achieve final fixation, so as to
prevent the disengagement of the circuit board 5 from the
insulating body 1 in the front-rear direction, and to prevent the
circuit board 5 from swaying in the left-right direction.
[0050] FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of an electrical connector
100 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, most
structures are the same as those in the first embodiment, and
details are not described herein again. This embodiment differs
from the first embodiment in that the first solder pad 55 is not
connected to the second solder pad 56, but the first solder pad 55
is connected to the third solder pad 57, and the third solder pad
57 is connected to the second solder pad 56.
[0051] FIG. 6 shows a third embodiment of an electrical connector
100 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, most
structures are the same as those in the first embodiment, and
details are not described herein again. This embodiment differs
from the first embodiment in that the solder 6 is firstly soldered
to the second solder pad 56, and the solder 6 has an arc-shaped
contacting surface 61 which is in contact with the shielding shell
4 to form an electrical connection. The first solder pad 55, the
second solder pad 56 and the third solder pad 57 can be connected
to one another in pairs, and can also be electrically connected in
pairs by a conductive path (not shown) on the circuit board 5.
[0052] FIG. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of an electrical connector
100 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, most
structures are the same as those in the first embodiment, and
details are not described herein again. This embodiment differs
from the first embodiment in that the first solder pad 55 and the
second solder pad 56 are electrically connected by a conductive
path on the circuit board 5, and the second solder pad 56 is
directly connected to the third solder pad 57.
[0053] FIG. 8 shows a fifth embodiment of an electrical connector
100 according to the present invention. In this embodiment, most
structures are the same as those in the first embodiment, and
details are not described herein again. This embodiment differs
from the first embodiment in that the first solder pad 55 and the
second solder pad 56 are electrically connected by a conductive
path on the circuit board 5, and the second solder pad 56 and the
third solder pad 57 are electrically connected by a conductive path
on the circuit board 5.
[0054] In summary, the electrical connector according to certain
embodiments of the present invention has the following beneficial
advantages:
[0055] 1. By arranging, on the circuit board 5, the first solder
pad 55 conductively connected to the grounding terminal 23 and the
second solder pad 56 electrically connected to the shielding shell
4, and electrically connecting the first solder pad 55 and the
second solder pad 56 on the circuit board 5, a grounding path can
be formed between the grounding terminal 23 and the shielding shell
4 merely by making a simple change to the connection structure
between the first solder pad 55 and the second solder pad 56 on the
circuit board 5, without the need for other elements, such as the
latch member 3.
[0056] 2. Both the first solder pad 55 and the third solder pad 57
are connected to the second solder pad 56, or the first solder pad
55 is connected to the third solder pad 57, and the second solder
pad 56 is connected to the third solder pad 57. Thus, there is no
need to arrange conductive paths on the circuit board 5, which
simplifies the design of the circuit board 5, reduces the number of
conductive paths on the circuit board 5, and facilitate the
arrangement of conductive paths electrically connected to the other
terminals 2.
[0057] 3. The front shell is formed by deep drawing technique, and
the soldering area 420 is connected together with the second solder
pad 56 via the solder 6. Thus, there is no need to form other
structures on the front shell to be conductively connected to the
second solder pad 56, and the front shell and the second solder pad
56 can be soldered together merely by melting the solder 6.
[0058] 4. The retaining portion 58 is located, in the left-right
direction, at the outer side of the third solder pad 57 at the
corresponding side, and the retaining portion 58 is retained in the
guiding slot 1130, to guide the circuit board 5 during its
insertion and to achieve final fixation, so as to prevent the
disengagement of the circuit board 5 from the insulating body 1 in
the front-rear direction, and to prevent the circuit board 5 from
swaying in the left-right direction.
[0059] The foregoing description of the exemplary embodiments of
the invention has been presented only for the purposes of
illustration and description and is not intended to be exhaustive
or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above
teaching.
[0060] The embodiments are chosen and described in order to explain
the principles of the invention and their practical application so
as to activate others skilled in the art to utilize the invention
and various embodiments and with various modifications as are
suited to the particular use contemplated. Alternative embodiments
will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the
present invention pertains without departing from its spirit and
scope. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is defined
by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description and
the exemplary embodiments described therein.
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